You First Foundation donates over $63k dollars to Nexus Children’s Hospital

Patients benefit from the new Activities Center, Sensory Room and state-of-the-art equipment

To date, You First Foundation has donated over $63k dollars to Nexus Children’s Hospital. Serving children with a variety of diagnoses from brain injury to autism, the facility can now provide more diverse therapeutic activities tailored to patients’ specific needs and preferences because of the foundation’s gift. “It is an honor to be able to present this check for the amount of $63,690.48 on behalf of You First Foundation,” says David Bleazard Chairman of You First Foundation Board. “In giving this donation to Nexus Children’s Hospital, You First Foundation is helping children with neurological conditions receive vital care they cannot get anywhere else. This is just one step in our ongoing commitment to supporting Nexus Health Systems and the groundbreaking work they do every day.”

Used to furnish the Activities Center and Sensory Room, as well as purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the rehabilitation gym, the donation has further enabled Nexus Health Systems to provide care to patients from birth to adolescence to young adulthood.

“This was a needed addition to our great rehabilitation program,” explained Dorothy Johnson, Director of Rehabilitation. “We can now increase therapeutic options to our sensory impaired patients and accommodate our larger patients more easily with our new adult size equipment. We are truly excited and very grateful to You First Foundation.”

Working to help patients redevelop skills so that they can be restored to live lives of productivity and meaning, Dr. John W. Cassidy, Founder, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Nexus Health Systems explained just how much this donation meant to him, his staff and their patients.

“The support of You First Foundation has been vital for all of our patients, most of whom come from circumstances that are less fortunate than ours,” said Cassidy. “They benefit greatly from everything the foundation has given.”

Echoing Dr. Cassidy’s sentiments, Nexus Children’s Hospital CEO Mary Harbeson said, “Because of this donation, we are able to offer patients more than we would ever be able to otherwise.”

As the ceremony concluded, patients and visiting family members toured the sensory room and all exclaimed how excited they were for the new space. Many pointed out different features like the aromatherapy, bubble machines, texture wall and lights, but all were unanimously excited to continue therapy in that space.

First donating to Nexus Children’s Hospital in 2015, You First Foundation has continued to support the facility and the patients they service annually. At the end of the ceremony, Frank Halstead, Treasurer of You First Foundation, said, “We already looking ahead to what else Nexus Children’s Hospital needs.”

About You First Foundation

The You First Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity founded in the memory of a beloved friend, Wendy Kwan, who died at age 34 from a brain aneurysm. The organization provides support for neurointensive care and neurorecovery centers to further their research on brain injuries and recovery solutions. The You First Foundation also helps the families of brain injury victims by providing scholarships to children whose lives have been adversely affected by traumatic medical events. The You First Foundation believes that through funding and research, brain injuries can be fully recoverable. Visit youfirstfoundation.org to follow the cause.